Month: September 2015

After living in the San Juans for more than a year, it was time we saw some whales. So, the Fry Family Quartet ferried over to Friday Harbor this morning to explore the west side of San Juan Island. We started at Lime Kiln Park, the best place for spotting Orca whales from the shore. We didn’t even have our picnic blanket spread out before a pod of Orcas started breaching in front of us. It was quite a show.

We then ventured down the beach to check out the old lime kiln, where limestone rocks were heated to 2000 degrees back in the day.

From there, we headed north to English Camp to learn about the 13-year, casualty free Pig War that determined ownership of the San Juans.

We ended our day trip at Roche Harbor, where we walked among the 100-foot yachts. Henry said, “I’m not impressed.”

This was a beautiful Fall day in the Islands. Happy to be back on Lopez. Time to check the crab pots.

Rarely exists something at Fry Lodge that is agreeable to every member of the Fry Family Quartet at the same time. Our new whiteboard is the exception. We make lists, draw funny pictures, use it as visual aid in conversation, leave notes for each other and post quotes of the day. Who knew a 3-foot by 2-foot rectangle could lead to such harmony?

Saturday morning on Mud Bay. Blue sky. A light ripple on the water. Birds flying over the wetlands. The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. And diesel exhaust from Dwight Lewis’ dump truck idling in the Fry Lodge driveway. As we prepare for the imminent moisture of fall on Lopez Island, it’s time to firm up the driveway to prevent the mud pit that emerged last year. That’s why Dwight was there Saturday morning – to dump 10 yards of crushed rock along the steep part of our drive. Luckily, he dumped it pretty evenly, easing the job of spreading it out – a job the entire family helped do on Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday evening, I was fortunate enough to put my sailing skills to the test on Brian Goff’s sailboat. Thanks, Captain B!

Henry and Ruby started school today, beginning 1st and 3rd grades. Kristine and I are excited for the start of the school year for so many reasons. For one, this marks the first time the kids will be attending the same school for two consecutive years. It’ll be interesting to see how much knowledge they retained over the summer. Ruby recited the 50 states song over breakfast, so she’s got that going for her. And, after a summer of flip flops, Henry remembered how to tie his shoes. I’ll take it.

This was the first weekend in a month that the entire Fry Family Quartet has been together on Lopez – after a series of vacation and work related trips. We got reacquainted with the people and activities we love most: biking, crabbing, kayaking, play dating and eating. The studio tour was this weekend, so we spent time at our favorite glass artist’s studio, BarnFire Glass, owned by Terri Roush.

We also enjoyed an awesome pizza party at Camp Roush on Sunday. Tommer and Terri have a wood fired pizza oven that produces some of the best pies I’ve ever eaten.

This was a wonderful Labor Day weekend, and a great way to end the summer with friends. The Fry and Roush kids get along so well and spend so much time together, we’re now scheming how we can cut a trail so the children can walk the 3 miles between our houses. Maybe there’s a water route, too.